been set up. That the delirious whirl of thought had occurred; that false perceptions had taken possession of the unfortunate gentleman; and that voices were calling upon him, and tempting him to the gulf, into which he so frightfully plunged. These symptoms, or in other words, a state of insanity had probably occurred. The case is widely different from the calculating suicide of a detected malefactor, or a proscribed Roman; to which latter person, there being no possibility of escape from an ignominious death, when "all the world was Rome," the commission of suicide became almost a matter of expediency.

The following considerations apply generally to this subject.

The suicidal tendency belongs principally to the bilious temperament.

It is rarely found in persons of personal timidity or of moral courage.

It is remarkable for the intensity, with which it operates, when developed in the insane, and for the address with which it masques its measures.

Accordingly, it increases the difficulty of treatment, whenever it co-exists with the insane state; and nothing but the most watchful attention can defeat the manoeuvres by which the unfortunate patient endeavours to attain his purpose.

One of the first points, which require consideration with this view, is the quality and kind of false perceptions occurring in a given case. Some lunatics will be found adopting their daily line of conduct, or again changing it, in reference to certain voices, which appear to dictate to them. Such persons are liable to carry into effect whatever measures are uppermost in their own mind, since these measures derive oracular force and influence from being conveyed, as it were, into their ears by their invisible companions. Through questions adroitly put, as to the communications thus made to him, the patient's own intentions may often be obtained and anticipated. And this leads me to notice a rule of practice extremely important in regard to the general interests of the patient, as well as to our present topic. In discussing with him his false perceptions, while we assert, that he stands alone, or, as was well expressed to me by an insane that he is in a person, 66 minority of one," in regard to them, we must be cautious, how we deny their reality, that is, their reality in regard to his perceptions, and much more how we deride him. By neglecting this rule, we often lose a valuable means of ascertaining the springs of action, by which he is influenced, and thus of defeating improper designs, and generally we

diminish his confidence in our promises and assertions. For the lunatic is not likely to feel this confidence, if feelings which are important to him, are derided; and if phenomena, which present themselves to his senses, are ascribed to his imagination. Meanwhile, the existence of this confidence is perfectly compatible with a distinct assertion, and protest on the part of the physician or the friend, that he does not participate in those views which the patient describes as his own. When this relative reality is admitted, the sufferer is induced to accept the assurances with which they are accompanied, and to believe, that they may at some future time turn out equally correct in other points. Thus his juidicous adviser may induce him to expect an alteration in the current of his thoughts and perceptions which may assimilate him to the rest of his species.

Exuberant gaiety bursting forth in one, whose ordinary state is extreme depression, constitutes an ominous symptom, where the tendency to suicide is suspected. The patient has often, at that moment, achieved just that state of orgasm, which will enable him to commit the act; and he exults fearfully in the consciousness of this.

"Furor est, agnoscere solis

Quem liceat quos jam tangit vicinia fati."

Sometimes, in regard to this act, as well as in regard to other proposed extravagances, the patient announces his intention definitely and precisely. To such announcement the greatest attention should be paid as unostentatiously as possible. Dr. Burroughs gives an example of a nobleman afflicted with "tædium vitæ," who promised not to commit suicide before his friend returned, at an appointed hour. Unfortunately the friend returned one hour beyond the limited period; and he found, that Lord S had just shot himself.

measures.

The signs of a suicidal tendency, presenting themselves under insanity, should indeed be carefully studied in relation to the non-application, as well as to the application, of precautionary The former point deserves consideration. For it must be remembered, that the indulgencies, the freedom from restraint, for instance, which we must deny to an insane person, for the purpose of securing him against himself, are often such as would be conducive to his recovery, if they were compatible with his personal safety.

If the tendency to suicide occasionally requires the supposition of insanity for its explanation, this hypothesis is requisite in an equal degree to

enable us to explain the wish to kill others, when this wish presents itself, as it often does, without any intelligible motive, or arrives at its horrible conclusion without meeting with those restraints, which a sane state would imply in the supposed

case.

Often under those circumstances we are compelled to believe, that delirium is present during the whole procedure, and that the wish to destroy is operating without any control from voluntary power. It is unchained, as it were, and let loose by insanity.

Often however (and this latter head more particularly deserves the attention of the moralists,) a tendency either directly or indirectly leading to the commission of the act, has sprung up in the mind antecedently to delirium, of which its indulgence has been the cause. Here insanity is, in some sort, productive of the homicidal act, and is itself the consequence of the homicidal tendency.

The following is the abstract of a case given by Dr. Esquirol, which illustrates this point.

"Mr. C—, a gentleman of a bilious and nervous temperament, aged thirty-three, about a year after his marriage, exhibited many signs of unreasonable jealousy, and soon afterwards became

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